1 N ow the boy Samuel was working for the Lord with Eli. There were few words from the Lord given in those days, and there were not many special dreams.

Now the boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation.

2 A t that time Eli was lying down in his own place. His eyes had become weak and he could not see well.

And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see,

3 T he lamp of God had not gone out yet. And Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord where the special box of God was.

and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the Lord where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down,

4 T hen the Lord called Samuel, and Samuel said, “Here I am.”

that the Lord called Samuel. And he answered, “Here I am!”

5 H e ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But Eli said, “I did not call you. Lie down again.” So Samuel went and lay down.

So he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” And he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” And he went and lay down.

6 T he Lord called again, “Samuel!” So Samuel got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But Eli answered, “I did not call you, my son. Lie down again.”

Then the Lord called yet again, “Samuel!” So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” He answered, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.”

7 N ow Samuel did not know the Lord yet. And the Word of the Lord had not been made known to him.

(Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him.)

8 T he Lord called Samuel again for the third time. He got up and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli understood that the Lord was calling the boy.

And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord had called the boy.

9 E li said to Samuel, “Go lie down. If He calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 T hen the Lord came and stood and called as He did the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”

Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”

11 T he Lord said to Samuel, “See, I am about to do a thing in Israel which will make both ears of everyone who hears it feel strange.

Then the Lord said to Samuel: “Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.

12 O n that day I will do all I have said I will do against the family of Eli.

In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.

13 I have told him that I will punish his family forever for the sin he knew about. Because his sons brought the sin upon themselves, and Eli did not stop them.

For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them.

14 S o I swear to the family of Eli that the sin of his family will not be paid for with gifts given on the altar forever.”

And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever.”

15 S amuel lay down until morning. Then he opened the doors of the house of the Lord. But Samuel was afraid to tell Eli about the special dream.

So Samuel lay down until morning, and opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel was afraid to tell Eli the vision.

16 E li called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son.” And Samuel said, “Here I am.”

Then Eli called Samuel and said, “Samuel, my son!” He answered, “Here I am.”

17 E li said, “What did the Lord tell you? Do not hide it from me. May God do so to you and more, if you hide anything from me of all He said to you.”

And he said, “What is the word that the Lord spoke to you? Please do not hide it from me. God do so to you, and more also, if you hide anything from me of all the things that He said to you.”

18 S o Samuel told him everything and hid nothing from him. And Eli said, “It is the Lord. Let Him do what is good in His eyes.”

Then Samuel told him everything, and hid nothing from him. And he said, “It is the Lord. Let Him do what seems good to Him.”

19 S amuel grew. And the Lord was with him and made everything he said come true.

So Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.

20 A ll Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel had become a man of God.

And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel had been established as a prophet of the Lord.

21 T he Lord came again to Shiloh. For the Lord made Himself known to Samuel at Shiloh, by the Word of the Lord.

Then the Lord appeared again in Shiloh. For the Lord revealed Himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord.